Gloucester City Cycling Club are one of the oldest clubs in the county.

Not only that, they are clearly one of the better ones as well because they have more than 200 members and are, says club member Tony Lake, “in very good health”.

They were formed in 1891 as the Tyndale Athletic and Cycling Club and their development over the past 128 years has certainly been impressive.

“We’re one of the oldest clubs in the country, certainly in the south west,” said Lake, who is the club’s time trials racing secretary.

But while they may have been established in the 19th century the club are very much geared up for the 21st century and offer something for pretty much anyone who wants to jump on a bicycle.

“Our members range in age from their teens to their 80s,” said long-serving clubman Ken Sheldon, “and we take part in most types of cycling from gentle social rides through to national competitions.

“The club encourage and support all aspects of cycling, with year-round Sunday rides – some that visit a café for morning coffee – with riders grouped by ability, and others undertaking a ‘chain gang’ ride to provide training in riding fast and in close proximity to other riders, skills necessary for road racing.

“Tuesdays have the same pattern with social rides at a gentle pace to a pub and another chain gang. On Wednesdays in the summer we have a full programme of time trials, forming season-long competitions for club members in which anyone can compete on an ad hoc basis.”

As the club’s racing secretary it’s no surprise to discover that Tony Lake, who has been a member of the club for the past seven years, is a big fan of time trials.

“The good thing about cycling is that you can find yourself racing against almost anyone,” he explained.

“That’s the attraction. You can come up against some of the top individuals in both road racing and cyclo-cross. It doesn’t happen in other sports – in football it would be like a local footballer playing against Harry Kane!

“You never know who is going to turn up for a local 10 in midweek.

“I’ve ridden against Roger Hammond and Oli Beckingsdale, who are both former national champions and have competed in the Olympics.”

So how did he get on against those two?

“They lapped us multiple times,” said 45-year-old Lake. “Their times are way off but at least it gives you something to measure yourself against.

“I raced against Roger Hammond at Beaufort School in Tuffley. He was racing in the nationals a week later and used it as a practice session.

“He rode us into the ground! It was amazing,” before adding with a chuckle, “but slightly annoying as well.”

Hammond and Beckingsdale were big names in the sport in this country throughout the noughties but Gloucester have had their own stars in years gone by.

Although the club have never been a racing club exclusively, they can boast a pretty impressive roll of honour including Phil Griffiths, a five-times winner of the British all-rounder competition; John Murphy, an age group national champion over 25 and 50 miles, and Chris Vasey, an age group national champion in 2,000 metres pursuit.

And the great thing for club is that all three are still active members at Gloucester CCC.

In addition, another member, Ann Wooldridge, came agonisingly close to completing the 3,000 mile non-stop Race across America (RAAM) within the 11-day limit.

It’s something she would have achieved, too, had she not lost 18 hours in hospital after a crash which meant she just missed the official cut-off.

That quartet are good, very good, of course but there are many other members of Gloucester City Cycling Club who ride bikes just to keep fit and enjoy the company of others.

“Some have been keen cyclists since childhood,” said Sheldon, “such as our president Malcolm Taylor, treasurer Alastair Goldie and club secretary Jon David.

“Indeed Jon can claim a unique heritage in that he is directly descended from one of the 1891 club’s founders.”

That year – 1891 – is these days a recurring theme at the club, as Sheldon explains.

“We have a veteran riders’ section which is known as the Tyndale Club as this was our original name back in 1891,” he said.

“The Tyndale riders have an ethos all of their own – let’s just say that its members are used to strangers staring and applauding as they proceed along in a stately manner!

“Tyndale stalwarts such as Ivan Bowkett and Mike Thomas are also often seen on modern bikes – a mix and match approach that is probably the nearest essence of the club.

“Most of our members like to dip a toe in more than one type of cycling – we are not at all tribal!”

Some of their members have also got into the wonderful sport of sport of cycling via other sports.

“Colin Edmonds is well known in rugby circles as a player and referee, and Maz Barwood and Simon Chapman are ex-runners,” added Sheldon.

Tony Lake also took a circuitous route into the sport.

Originally an endurance runner with Gloucester Athletic Club, he then took up a triathlon and was a member of Tri Team Glos for 10 years before concentrating on cycling.

He admits that he prefers cycling to running and swimming these days and admits that he still likes the thrill of competition.

“I still race time trials,” he said. “I still get tempted to think that I can compete with people half my age.

“There are still some good time trialists in their 50s and even 60s – what you lose is the aggression and the motivation to hurt yourself.

“That is particularly true in road races where you can be putting your body on the line for two-and-a-half or three hours.”

Lake, who lives in Huntley, has had “a few scratches, scrapes and cuts over the years” but has never sustained a serious injury.

That is something that has obviously pleased his wife Jane, who although not a cyclist herself, has played a very important supporting role over the years.

“She’s my kit manager,” laughed Lake. “She’s always doing the washing, especially in the winter when I wear so many layers!”